Trending
Celtic News Now
Celtic Quick News on News Now
Celtic Quick News
You are at:»»Breakthrough win as Jozo and Dedryck take control

Breakthrough win as Jozo and Dedryck take control

391
By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Last night’s historic win in Brussels feels like a breakthrough moment. It has been 16 years since we first played Champions League group stage football, but our only win on the road in that period was snatched in the final minute by a Georgios Samaras header in Moscow. This time, the victory was achieved while dominating the game from first to last, not conceding, and punishing Anderlecht’s vulnerabilities.

A word for the defence. Those who make it their business to complain about Celtic, reserved their recent venom for the decision not to move to an alternative central defensive target when Rivaldo Coetzee failed a fitness test. With our first choice defensive line-up available this week for the first time this season, we look remarkably solid. The manager will continue to give experience to Ajer, Miller and Ralston as the season progresses.

Pre-match, Dedryck Boyata played down suggestions that playing in his home town would aid his performance, but I suspected it would. The big defender, and his partner, Jozo Simunovic, were imperious. Celtic enjoyed 63% possession, much of it going through these two. Kieran Tierney and Mikael Lustig were always available for a pass, and seemed to demoralise Anderlecht’s creative talents.

The opening goal was a masterclass for the entire team, but especially so for Boyata and Simunovic, who during the build-up, made seven and five passes respectively.  Patrick Roberts and Craig Gordon were the only Celtic players not to complete a pass during the move.  You have seem great Celtic teams in Europe, but you have never seen anything like this.  That 24-pass Liam Miller goal against Lyon 14 years ago remains alive in the memory because it was so exceptional in that Celtic team.  Last night’s opener was 28 passes, was away from home, and is absolutely typical of how we now play football.

Celtic’s attacking players (rightly) attract most of the attention, but the foundation of this team is our back line. Our system of play is not possible without defenders who can receive a fast ball, pass, remain alert and calm.  If you are old enough to remember the impact the 1974 World Cup made, the final in particular, last night’s game will resonate with you.

Olivier Ntcham picked up the broken pieces of his performance in the opening 30 minutes to split the defence open for the first goal, before collecting a loose ball and feeding Scott Sinclair for the third. The manager will ponder what was going on during that opening period.  Despite the generosity of the win, the result could have been in jeopardy if one link in the chain was not performing.

Years ago I remember analysing goals in our Champions League games and noted that mistakes were overwhelmingly influential in determining the outcomes of games. Our second and third goals were down to unenforced Anderlecht errors.

At the second, the Anderlecht right back had comfortable possession and the opportunity to clear up the line, but instead elected to play a ball into the space in front of his own penalty area. At this point, the hosts were a mis-control away from presenting Celtic with a chance, which duly happened.  Scott Sinclair’s injury-time third goal came as a result of an Anderlecht pass out of defence, which rolled straight into Ntcham’s path , allowing Celtic to turnover, 4 v 2.

What followed on both occasions is the lesson every football fan knows, make a mistake at this level, and you will be punished.

Well done, Celtic. A magnificent performance and result.  The only away win to compare in the last 47 years was when we caught Ajax cold in 2001.

Celtic FC Foundation, Great Scottish Run

I’m doing the Great Scottish Run this Sunday for the Celtic FC Foundation, full of the joys of being a Celtic supporter during these great times.  We are not only about winning trophies and the Champions League, this club is as deep as the ocean.  On Sunday, it will be about the work of the Foundation, with the poorest in Glasgow and surrounding areas, in the most deprived communities of London, for those marginalised from society, and for the great work with Autism.  Not to mention the outreach in Malawi, Haiti and so many other places most of the world ignores.

I’ve never made porridge in Malawi, or fed the poor in Haiti, not would I know how to engage with Autistic kids, but you and me can do our bit for those who have the responsibility of delivering help where needed.  What I can do is run on Sunday and ask for sponsorship.  If you can help, do so at this MyDonate page.

Thank you.

The CQN Podcast: A Celtic State of Mind (EP14) Champions League Special

A Celtic State of Mind offers an insight into the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.

Each episode includes interviews with ‘Celtic-minded’ figures from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature or politics.

Ahead of the crucial Champions League match against Anderlecht, ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ goes behind the Champions League curtain for Celtic’s opening match against PSG.

Kevin Graham provides pre and post-match discussion with members of his CSC, as well as in-match analysis in what will be a regular Celtic State of Mind feature.

Enjoy!

img_3578-10.jpg

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

391 Comments
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11

  3. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    SIONNACH ABU on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 3:54 AM

     

     

     

    Commentary dubbed on later.

     

    Probably much later.

  8. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    SIONNACH ABU on 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017 4:32 AM

     

     

    The game was recorded .

     

    God knows why it was unable to be shown that night.

     

    Conspiracy theorists probably got it right.

     

    Changed days indeed.

  12. Big Jimmy on

    TURKEYBHOY on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2017 11:44 AM

     

    A few “Drama queens”on today.One especially.Just where since last night did anyone say it was not a great result?.There were some aspects of the game,that were poles apart.The back 4 were immense.,the whole game.In the 1st half,the midfield could not get any passing together,Ntcham,the worst offender, pass for the goal being the exception.Tom Rogic had a very poor game.Ollie struggled the whole 1st half,which put a lot of onus on Broony,who could not be his usual dominant self.Yes we had 70% possession,but mainly in our own half,in that 1st half.The front 3,although not brilliant,did their job,and got the goals.Since when is it a crime to say someone “Had a poor game”.Second half,we got a good bit better.Credit to Ollie for putting the 1st half behind him.

     

     

    Big Jimmy,if you want to argue with any of that,then you are “The Chump”,wearing blinkers.

     

    …………………………………………

     

     

    Let me get this right………….

     

    A poster…so called Celtic fan on here states that Anderlecht v Celtic match was ” A CRIME against football”….thereby seriously implying that MY Club Celtic were at least 50% to blame for “Crimes against football”..and I express my opinion about that….and yet according to you I am The Chump ??????

     

    Since you and others have FAILED to speak out against the real Chump who said that about MY Club Celtic, then it’s perfectly clear who the real Chumps are.

     

    By the way..I wasn’t a ” VIRTUAL BOUNCER” for around 12 years in Glesga, to whatever Chump posted that

     

    last night .

     

    My last point before I disappear into the Bouncers Graveyard is this, I was also disappointed at some of Celtic’s slack passing in the 1st half, but I didn’t moan and groan, nor did I shout and scream at a tv ( unlike others on here who have admitted doing so)…no…If I did shout anything at the Pub TV…it was words of feckin ” ENCOURAGEMENT” for the Bhoys in the Hoops….there lies the feckin difference between Men like me, and other so called Celtic “Supporters” on here !

     

     

    Bye now.

  13. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    TEUCHTERARLA

     

     

    Only a flying visit while I popped into the office,mate.

     

     

    Feelings are mutual re Lisbon-in fact our memories are better for you filling in the details in the morning!!!

     

     

    Absolutely tremendous time,Sconie. Thanks for putting up with us.

  16. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BIGJIMMY

     

     

    My Dad left the pub he was watching it in,and went to another. He posted on here that in the first pub,we had six hawyous and two ffs playing for us!

  19. Big Jimmy on

    FAO BMCUWP,

     

     

    From what Ive read on here since Wednesday night, it must have really annoyed some on here when young rising star Olivier N’Cham played that defence splitting pass to young KT..and then went on to play a fantastic game, as did many other Celts….from that pass and the rest of the game some Chumps had NOTHING to moan about…that must have really hurt ’em !

     

    Cheers mate

     

    See you on 11/11…..I’m outa here

     

    HH

  20. KEVJUNGLE on

    Four Catholic families forced out of their homes by, loyalist paramilitaries in East Belfast the other night, BBC newsline.

     

    ……oot.

  21. gorbalstam on

    Big Jimmy on 29th September 2017 5:36 am

     

     

    We’ve already been through this. If I hadn’t chided Ntcham via my TV he’d never have got his act together and came onto a game.

     

    You’re welcome.

  25. Jobo Baldie on

    Good morning, friends and a Big Happy Friday to you all

     

    ****CQN Last Man Standing 9-new competition starts TODAY!!!****

     

    Deadline for entries – 7pm this evening.

     

    We are still welcoming entrants for our Last Man Standing competition which starts in around 12 hours time.

     

    The competition will follow the same format as before and to win the entire prizepot, all you have to be is the Last (wo)man Standing at the end of the competition.

     

    Not played before? Simply, select 1 team each week (a different one each week) from our list of fixtures and if you are the last (wo)man standing, then you win the prize.

     

    It’s £10 to join, with £5 going towards the prizepot. The other £5 will be paid over to 2 good causes, being equally split equally between “Walk With Shay” and “The Oscar Knox Fund”; two causes very close to our hearts. https://www.facebook.com/OscarKnoxFund/ and

     

    https://www.facebook.com/walkwithshay/

     

    So if you want to take part please send us an email (quickly, now!!) to cqnpredictor@gmail.com saying ” Count me in” and we will send you the first week’s fixtures, with the rules and payment details. If you do it this morning we should reply at lunctime, but you do have up until 7pm to register your interest. And please also feel free to pass onto family and friends – the more the merrier, and the more funds raised (and prizes paid!)

     

    Thanks.

     

    CRC and Jobo

  26. Jobo Baldie on

    Oh and coming up to the 130th birthday of our Club we are currently only 2 entries short of that magical figure…..

     

     

    Work calling………..

  27. Sionnach Abu on

    “Celtic captain Scott Brown should be fit to play for Scotland. He never stops playing. He is amazing.” Kolo Toure.

     

    If our Captain puts the SFA first before Celtic, may God forgive him. I wont.

  29. Hot Smoked on

    At the risk of incurring the wrath of Big Jimmy, I felt that , judging by the highlights below ( which are all I have seen, ) then we still have to be very careful re Anderlecht at Celtic Park, They had decent chances. We, in the main, took ours, they didn`t.

     

    Results don`t ALWAYS reflect performance. We beat Aberdeen 9-0 a little while back and, apparently, only had EIGHT shots on target ( one o.g ). That same season, we lost one game 2-1, I think, maybe 1-0 , against possibly Motherwell or even Dunfermline and had about thirty shots on target!

     

    I am, of curse, elated about the result in Belgium. I am just advising some caution . Let`s keep improving as we are and look forward with optimism but let us also not become too carried away. Teams who have played Away in Europe often come unstuck in the first game afterwards. Hibs are no mugs and tomorrow`s game could be a tricky one.

     

    Cheerio for now,

     

    JJ

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQAzPRokm_8

  30. Hot Smoked on

    JOBO

     

     

    Did you receive my email asking for permission for a Saturday payment of LMS at CQN Corner tomorrow?

     

     

    JJ

  31. Sionnach Abu on

    Dear Scott Brown,

     

    You either represent the SFA next week or represent Celtic the following.

     

    Your choice, you wont be fit enough for both.

     

    slan agat

     

    Sionnach Abu

     

    ps Paul67, I’ll take the Red Card any day for this, please make sure Broonie understands.

  32. VFR800 is now a Monster 821 on

    Word of The Day (Assoiling the Bears…..)

     

     

    assoil /əˈsɔɪl/ 

     

     

    verb (transitive) ( archaic) 

     

    1. set free

     

    2. to absolve; acquit; pardon.

     

    3. to atone for

     

     

    Word Origin

     

    C13: from Old French assoldre, from Latin absolvere to absolve

     

     

     

    KTF

  33. VFR800 is now a Monster 821 on

    Just for clarity; Ntcham misplaced 8 passes of his 77 attempted. Tierny misplace 8 of 48 and Lustig misplaced 9 of 74.

     

     

    justsayinglikeCSC

     

     

    KTF

  34. gorbalstam on

    VFR800 is now a Monster 821 on 29th September 2017 7:59 am

     

     

    Aye, because I called him out from my living room. That was just what he needed at the time, Sometimes it’s arm round the shoulder, but sometimes you just have get them telt (using telepathy obviously).

  35. Sionnach Abu on

    Why do Celtic players still represent the SFA?

     

    It’s their own personal choice. They all know what’s going on. They know what they’re doing.

     

    If anything summed up their contempt for us, limping into duty on behalf of the SFA, on their knees by the time they face Bayern Munich?

     

    I ask you.

     

    HH

  38. scullybhoy on

    ‘Workable suggestions’

     

     

    In its paper of proposals to break the deadlock on the Irish language issue, the Alliance Party proposes:

     

     

    a measure dealing with the Irish language;

     

     

    another dealing with Ulster-Scots and English;

     

     

    a third recognising the importance of indigenous spoken languages, regional dialects and languages and identities recently brought to Northern Ireland

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    If Ulster Scots gets the full go ahead (I don’t really care) the moderator on this site will have some fun.

     

     

    Stoptalkingpish CSC

  40. Sionnach Abu on

    Auldheid, Paul 67, et al Resolution 12.

     

    Here it is in front of you. Demand we withdraw our own from the services of the SFA.

     

    There’s your silver bullet Peter Lawwell demanded from you on a plate.

     

    What’s more, our team wont be to knackered/injured playing against Bayern Munich. Think I’m exaggerating? Take a long hard look at Scott Brown for starters.

     

    Ave Ave

  41. Hutchybhoy on

    Morning Troops, away for a lad’s golfing weekend to the Cadrona in Peebles this afternoon. Any decent pubs in the area to watch the Accies beat the Zombies tonight? Any help much appreciated HH

  42. setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on

    The 2 Scotland matches are on the 5th and 8th October and Celtic are due to play their first game almost a week later on the 14th at home to Dundee. Our next CL tie is on the 18th in Munich.

     

     

    In addition, the Celtic players will only play in those two internationals if the manage to win the first one as that is the only way to make the 2nd one relevant.

     

     

    Every game and every training session is a risk and the 6 Scotland players will share the same risk as Mikel with Sweden, Jozo with Bosnia, Nir with Israel and Tom Rogic with the Soccerroos.

     

     

    In the end, it matters not what our supporters prefer, the players get to choose. And the prospect of getting to a major finals tournament (slimmish as it is) will ensure they all show up if fit to do so.

     

     

    The only risk is getting an injury or aggravating an existing one. They will not return too tired to play versus Bayern, a full 10 days after the last international match. Our players will go for the glory of a possible finals spot and will all turn up (bar the injured who are unable to play) for at least the first fixture.

     

     

    They will just have to live with Foxy’s disapproval but I think they’ll survive that with no great difficulty.

  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11